President Trump commuted the sentences of over 450 prison inmates in Oklahoma this week, making it the largest single-day commutation in U.S. history.

Prior to this release, the largest single-day mass commutation was by former President Obama on his last day of office as President when he commuted the sentences of 330 prisoners who were being held for drug-related crimes.

Those released inmates were incarcerated for non-serious drug and property crimes. A recent bill that was passed by Republican Governor Kevin Stitt, downgraded the severity of these classes of crimes, turning drug possession and certain property crimes into misdemeanors.

According to AOL,

Releasing the inmates will save Oklahoma an estimated $11.9 million over the cost of continuing to keep them behind bars, according to the governor’s office.

The board last week considered 814 cases and recommended 527 inmates for commutation. However, 65 are being held on detainers, leaving about 462 inmates to be released on Monday.

“It feels amazing to be on the other side of the fence,” said Tess Harjo, a 28-year-old who was released Monday from the Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Taft, Oklahoma.

Harjo was sentenced to 15 years in prison after her Okmulgee County conviction last year for possession of methamphetamines. She said she was surprised at the number of women she met in prison serving long sentences for drug crimes.

“I have met many women in here who came from a medium- or maximum-security prison who have already served 18 or more years,” Harjo said. “It’s ridiculous.”

When it comes to drug related crimes and prison sentences, this can be a touchy subject. I understand not everyone holds to the same opinion that I do, but I don’t think that drugs should be illegal therefore prison sentences for drug charges shouldn’t exist. I’m not advocating for the use of drugs, I think they are terrible for the most part and I’m not a drug user. I just don’t think the government should have the ability in a free society to tell Americans what they can and cannot have.

This contradicts our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, even if the choices are bad choices, the government is not our nanny or parent so they should not have a say in such matters.